By Neil Goulding

Ten countries, ten days of competition - but only one winner!

An enticing soundbite which accompanied posters, programmes and billboards to promote this year's Women's World Cup, the seventh since it's inauguration in 1982.

True, but in England's eyes there was more than winner.

Having become good friends with Australia, the English girls were delighted that the girls from Down Under ended the United States' hopes of winning a record-breaking fourth consecutive gold medal.

But despite missing out on a place in this year's showcase final at the Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, England went after the bronze medal. They got it.

Gutsy performances across the pitch, even those players plagued with injury performed, to guide England to their third successive bronze medal.

Success was richly deserved - and as the only foreign journalist across the Atlantic Ocean covering the event I was privileged to witness first-hand the national team's successful run.

I watched every game, somewhat worried initially after nervous openings against the U.S. and Australia.

But, I'm glad to report, England clicked as a team, settled and played with more confidence every game.

Even against Wales, who made life difficult for Lois Richardson's team, I felt (and I know all the players did after speaking to them after every game) that there was always something good left to come even when the going got tough.

So it proved. England ended the tournament with a respectable record of five wins from eight outings. Wales were beaten in pool play (6-2) as were Canada (11-6), the latter the best I saw England play all tournament.

Victory came again, this time 22-0 against Germany in a crucial play-in game to progress to the quarter-finals, before it was another meeting with Wales, coached by former England player Vic Alexander (formerly Cramwell), head coach Margaret Corbitt and Jane Smallwood.

Wales were fired up and ran England close, the match going into over-time after the Welsh snatched too late goals to level at 6-6 with just five seconds remaining.

But Lucy Lynch, one of the youngest members of the team at 20 and a star performer at the U19 World Cup in Baltimore when England won bronze, was the saviour.

The versatile midfielder and attacker scored right on the buzzer at the end of the first period of over-time, a goal which proved enough for England to move into the semi-finals.

There they met the U.S., the defending champions and opponents whom beat them 13-5 at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility on the opening night of competition and pool play.

The U.S. proved too strong again, but England licked their wounds and readied themselves for another showdown with Canada.

Canada wanted revenge for defeat in pool play and for missing out on bronze in High Wycombe in 2001 when England triumphed 9-4.

England were not about to let that happen and showed real character when Canada scored three goals without reply to make it 9-8, before England scored twice again to win a medal.

I was so excited down on the scorers table that Steve Steneson, the Director of U.S. Lacrosse (a great bloke by the way) had to politely warn me to not to cheer as I was sitting in a 'neutral' area. Thanks Steve.

The match, for me, was a close second to the best of the tournament. England's over-time thriller with Wales has to be my number one choice, though.

Victory meant a lot to all the England players and was a fitting way to end the tournament after four years of hard work, including tours to the States and Australia, where the national side got tasters of what the competition would be like at this year's Championship in Annapolis, Maryland.

It was equally as fitting for the England supporters who, I must acknowledge, were in fantastic voice throughout the whole event.

Boyfriends, parents and many more England lacrosse fans gave the girls some well-deserved support.

Every national anthem before a game was greeted with a chorus from the supporters, enough to send a shiver down your spine.

If I was asked to pick out one individual who was my star player of the tournament, I couldn't. I don't think it would be fair to because all the girls gave their all for the cause.

England's defence was built around a bedrock of goalkeeper Rachana Shetty, who was one of the team's most consistent performers, as well as Justine Hunt, the Kirchheimer sisters, Rachel and Sarah, and the experienced Alex Harle.

Midfielders Emily Garvey, Suzy Eul, Lizzie Leppard, Flick Hermsen, Sophie Gapper, Lynch and Lizzy McCosh also stuck to their defensive duties, battling for vital ground balls and creating fast-break opportunities.

All above the above also controlled possession in the middle of the field, feeding the attacking talents of Sarah Butt, Ailsa Stott - the only North player in the squad - Katy Bennett and Allison Smith.

The combination of all 16 players really did work, while on the sidelines Richardson directed operations and team England - manager Jo Lupton, assistant coach Anne Richards, physiotherapist Sian MacRae, support staff Michelle Mokracek, and travelling reserves Eleanor Garnier and Annabel Kiddle all played key roles in the national team's successful campaign.

And with a young team to choose from, 13 of whom had never played in a World Cup before, the England team is rightly confident they can come back stronger, but decidedly much more wiser for the challenge which lies ahead in 2009 when 12 teams will compete for three medals.

'You only get to play in a World Cup every four year, so the experience the players gained from this one will be invaluable,' said Richardson.

'I'm confident we will be stronger by the time 2009 comes around.'

England’s leading scorer of the World Cup was Ailsa Stott with 14 goals, while Katy Bennett scored 11 goals.

Bennett was England’s leading points-scorer with 20 (11gls, 9 assists), while Stott (14gls, 2 assists) and Sarah Butt (7gls, 9 assists) finished close behind with 16 points respectively.

Four England players won Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.

Lucy Lynch against Canada in the bronze-medal game; Stott for a starring performance in a 22-0 triumph over Germany; Bennett against Canada in pool play; and Butt against Wales in pool play.

Other star performers included Lynch (9gls, 1 assist) and Felicity Hermsen (6gls, 4 assists).

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